Thursday, January 19, 2012

REVIEW: "CORIOLANUS"

Still from Coriolanus

If there's one Human Truth one can take away from Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut Coriolanus, it would be the importance of living your own life. The Action-Drama takes modern sensibility, edgy (albeit shaky) Cinematography, outstanding acting and delivers William Shakespeare's lesser-known Play with some bloody, violent gusto.

The Film centers on Coriolanus (Fiennes), a Roman General who at once is celebrated and loathed by his people. Under the pressure of his controlling Mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave), he is given little choice but to advance to the position of Consul. After failing to win the hearts of Romans and thus their requisite votes, he reacts angrily and finally is banished from Rome. Coriolanus, leaves behind his beloved Mother, his Wife Virgilia (Jessica Chastain) and Son Martius (Harry Fenn) to form a shocking alliance with his Arch-Nemesis Aufidius (Gerard Butler). Alas, our Hero's loyalties are tested to the extreme when his Family returns to confront him, but has Coriolanus reached the point of no return?

Point blank, Coriolanus isn't for everyone. Some fans of Contemporary Cinema simply won't connect with John Logan's Screenplay, which faithfully is Shakespearean; this of course, bodes well for Enthusiasts. Some may even react queasily to the copious amount of violence seen on-screen, but in the end, the Film raises generates some interesting thoughts about Free Will, Betrayal and the cost of Ambition.

Fiennes is ferocious here, terrifying when he works himself into full-on rage and as a Director, he brings out some fantastic work from his Ensemble Cast. Redgrave in particular is perfect as an overbearing Mother who is commanding, yet protective. There even are a few Oedipal moments in her embraces with Coriolanus himself (look above). Chastain although seen less, is effective illustrating Volumnia's unquestionable dominance and it is refreshing to see Butler take a risk here and stretch his range. One or two lingering moments late in the Film between himself and Fiennes might raise a few eyebrows on the true nature of Coriolanus and Aufidius' love/hate relationship. D Films releases Coriolanus on January 20, 2012.

Launched September 2009, a Blog from lover of Showbiz at large, Mr. Will-W., on Film, Pop Music and the Celebrity/Fan Dynamic. The Celebrity Photoblog is unlike any other, delivering exclusive Celebrity Stories with a local focus, with exciting interactive Giveaways for Readers.

Occasionally, he has been seen on CTV's CP24, where he is a go-to for Celebrity Scoop during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Mr. Will-W. has been referenced via major outlets like E! Online, CityTV, Flare, Sun TV, The Grid, Canadian Press, Yahoo!, BBC, Entertainment Weekly, Toronto Life and The National Post, the latter in which he was profiled and praised as "a public mainstay" and noted as "Toronto's Top Celeb Blogger".

Not only is the Blog a must-read for the Pop Culture-obsessed, his YouTube Channel also has exceeded 4.8 million views worldwide.

VOCABULARY

SPECIAL THANKS

Mr. Will-W. would like to thank Universal Music, Sony Music, Warner Music, EMI, Alliance Films, 20th Century Fox Canada, Fox Searchlight Canada, Allied Integrated Marketing, Touchwood PR, D Films, Walt Disney Motion Pictures Canada and Warner Bros. Canada for their continued generosity. With their assistance, he is able to provide you with the latest and greatest in Music and Film.

Also due a thanks are the fantastic people at Media Profile, Capital C Marketing, Atom Factory, NKPR, H&M Canada, Menchie's, Butter PR, Thomas Allen & Son, Strategic Objectives, Matchstick, Woodbine Entertainment, Miles High Productions and CSN Stores for their support.